Sec. 10. (a) A real property improvement supplier shall provide a completed real property improvement contract to the consumer before it is signed by the consumer. Except as provided in subsection (c), and subject to subsection (e) and section 10.6 of this chapter for contracts entered into after June 30, 2017, the contract must contain at a minimum the following:

(1) The name of the consumer and the address of the real property that is the subject of the real property improvement.

(2) The following information:

(A) The name and address of the real property improvement supplier and, for a real property improvement contract executed after June 30, 2017, an electronic mail address maintained and used by the real property improvement supplier to communicate with consumers.

(B) The following information with respect to each owner, officer, employee, or agent of the real property improvement supplier to whom consumer problems and inquiries can be directed:

(i) Name.

(ii) Telephone number.

(iii) For a real property improvement contract executed after June 30, 2017, an electronic mail address maintained and used by the owner, officer, employee, or agent to communicate with consumers.

(3) The date the real property improvement contract was submitted to the consumer and any time limitation on the consumer’s acceptance of the real property improvement contract.

(4) A reasonably detailed description of the proposed real property improvements.

(5) If the description required by subdivision (4) does not include the specifications for the real property improvement, a statement that the specifications will be provided to the consumer before any work is commenced under the real property improvement contract and that the real property improvement contract is subject to the consumer’s separate written and dated approval of the specifications.

(6) The approximate starting and completion dates of the real property improvements.

(7) A statement of any contingencies that would materially change the approximate completion date.

(8) The real property improvement contract price.

(9) Subject to subsections (b) and (c)(8), for a real property improvement contract executed after June 30, 2017, a statement as to whether any third party, including any:

(A) subcontractor;

(B) vendor; or

(C) other person;

that is not a party to the contract, will lease or furnish any labor, services, material, equipment, or machinery to, or on behalf of, the real property improvement supplier in connection with the real property improvement.

(10) Signature lines for the real property improvement supplier or the supplier’s agent and for each consumer who is to be a party to the real property improvement contract with a legible printed or a typed version of that person’s name placed directly after or below the signature.

     (b) The real property improvement contract must be in a form that each consumer who is a party to it can reasonably read and understand.

     (c) If a real property improvement contract is entered into for damage, loss, or expense that is to be paid, in whole or in part, from the proceeds of an insurance policy, or for damage, loss, or expense for which a third party is liable, the following conditions and requirements apply to the real property improvement contract:

(1) For the purpose of subsection (a)(4) through (a)(7), the description, completion dates, and statement of contingencies must be prepared for the proposed real property improvements to the extent that the damage, loss, or expense is reasonably known by the real property improvement supplier.

(2) For the purpose of subsection (a)(4), the requirement that a reasonably detailed description be included in the contract may be satisfied with a statement that the subject real estate will be repaired or restored to the same condition in which the real estate existed before the damage, loss, or expense occurred, or to a comparable condition.

(3) For the purpose of subsection (a)(6), the starting and completion dates may be expressed in terms of the number of days elapsed from the date when sufficient approval of the insurance carrier terms allowing for adequate repair or restoration is obtained.

(4) For the purpose of subsection (a)(8), the consumer or insured consumer may agree to a contract price expressed in terms of the consumer’s or insured consumer’s liability for payment after the application of insurance proceeds or payments from a liable third party.

(5) The consumer or insured consumer may elect, in writing, to authorize the commencement of work on the real property before the consumer or insured consumer receives complete specifications. However, a consumer or an insured consumer who elects to authorize the commencement of work under this subdivision is obligated for the real property improvements specified and, if applicable, agreed to by the insurance carrier.

(6) This subdivision applies to a real property improvement contract that is entered into by a real property improvement supplier and an insured consumer after June 30, 2012, and before July 1, 2017, and that includes one (1) or more exterior improvements. Before entering into a real property improvement contract that is to be paid, in whole or in part, from the proceeds of an insurance policy, the real property improvement supplier must inform the insured consumer of the insured consumer’s rights under section 10.5(b) of this chapter by doing the following:

(A) Furnishing to the insured consumer the following statement: “You may cancel this contract at any time before midnight on the third business day after you have received written notification from your insurance company that all or any part of the claim or contract is not a covered loss under the insurance policy. See attached notice of cancellation form for an explanation of this right.”.

(B) Furnishing to the insured consumer a form, in duplicate, that is captioned “NOTICE OF CANCELLATION” and is attached to the contract but easily detachable, and that contains the following statement in at least 10 point, boldface type:

“NOTICE OF CANCELLATION

If you are notified by your insurance company that all or any part of the claim or contract is not a covered loss under the insurance policy, you may cancel the contract by mailing or delivering a signed and dated copy of this cancellation notice or any other written notice to (name of real property improvement supplier) at (address of real property improvement supplier’s place of business) at any time before midnight on the third business day after you have received such notice from your insurance company.

If you cancel the contract, any payments made by you under the contract will be returned to you within ten (10) business days following receipt by (name of real property improvement supplier) of your cancellation notice, minus any amounts you may owe for work already done by (name of real property improvement supplier).

I HEREBY CANCEL THIS TRANSACTION

_______________________________

(date)

_______________________________

(insured consumer’s signature)”.

(7) This subdivision applies to a real property improvement contract that is entered into as a result of damage, loss, or expense that is to be paid, in whole or in part, from the proceeds of an insurance policy. However, this subdivision does not apply to a consumer and a real property improvement supplier that have a prior business relationship. After June 30, 2012, a real property improvement supplier may not enter into a real property improvement contract to which this subdivision applies unless one (1) or more of the following apply:

(A) The real property improvement supplier resides, is domiciled, or is authorized to do business in Indiana.

(B) The real property improvement supplier maintains in Indiana one (1) or more fixed physical locations from which the real property improvement supplier engages in or solicits real property improvement contracts.

(C) The real property improvement supplier has appointed a resident agent in Indiana for service of legal process.

(8) This subdivision applies to a real property improvement contract that is entered into by a real property improvement supplier and an insured consumer after June 30, 2017, and in connection with which a third party described in subsection (a)(9) will lease or furnish labor, services, material, equipment, or machinery to, or on behalf of, the real property improvement supplier. Subject to subsection (b), a real property improvement contract to which this subdivision applies must include, in addition to the statement required under subsection (a)(9), a statement that neither the real property improvement supplier nor a third party described in subsection (a)(9) may initiate or pursue a claim with the insured consumer’s insurance company.

     (d) A modification to a real property improvement contract is not enforceable against a consumer unless the modification is stated in a writing that is signed by the consumer.

     (e) This subsection applies to a real property improvement contract that is executed after June 30, 2017, and in connection with which a third party described in subsection (a)(9) leases or furnishes labor, services, material, equipment, or machinery to, or on behalf of, the real property improvement supplier that is a party to the contract. Neither the real property improvement supplier nor a party described in subsection (a)(9) may initiate or pursue a claim with an insured consumer’s insurance company.

     (f) A real property improvement contract may not assign any rights of the consumer to any supplier or third parties.

     (g) A real property improvement contract must reflect the full amount of the contract price less any discounts offered.

     (h) A real property improvement supplier or third party who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally impersonates a consumer commits a Class A misdemeanor.

As added by P.L.251-1987, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.119-2001, SEC.1; P.L.82-2012, SEC.7; P.L.170-2017, SEC.18.